Its Whale Watching season on the Great Barrier Reef! With its abundance of marine wildlife coupled with its warm tropical waters it’s no surprise the Great Barrier Reef is a perfect breeding ground for various species of whales and Dolphins who migrate here every year to calve and breed before returning to the summer waters of the Antarctic.
Minke and Humpback Whale season is between June – September and it was only last week I personally saw a pod of Dolphins swimming off Ellis Beach about 10 minutes from Palm Cove.
Cairns Whale Watching Tour
There is just the one dedicated Whale Watching Tour from Cairns which operates 15 July - 6 September 2026. This day tour is a great option to view whales as well as enjoy 2.5 hours free time at Fitzroy Island. This is a seasonal tour and only operates during peak whale watching season in Cairns - we highly recommend booking early to avoid missing out on the opportunity!
Swim with Dwarf Minke Whales | Day Trips & Liveaboard Trips
Day Tours - From Port Douglas Swimming with Whales is available on only 3 reef operators. These reef operators visit the outer Great Barrier Reef close to the continental shelf and have licences to allow guests to swim with the whales . Swim with the Whales Permit for July to August offers a chance to swim with Minke Whales, providing a rare and unforgettable snorkelling opportunity. Note:- This is not a guaranteed activity, it’s a bonus if the minke whales are willing and the boat is on time. A rope is harnessed to the back of the boat for you to hold on to making watching these magnificent creatures a breeze.
Liveaboard Trips - Extended 3-7 night liveaboard Whale dive expeditions operate during the season - which is the way to go if you want to spend a couple of days whale watching while exploring all the Great Barrier Reef has to offer. These liveaboard trips are very popular and booking 4 - 12 months in advance is highly recommended.
Can you imagine snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef and finding yourself looking into the eye of a beautiful 6 – 7 meter Dwarf Minke whale. On average Dwarf Minke whales live for about 40 years but some have been known to live up to 60 years. Little is known about the Dwarf Minke whales and scientists are unable to even track their approximate numbers or migrating patterns. The Dwarf Minke whales are especially playful and inquisitive of humans and can swim in bursts of up to 15 knots. Swimming with a Dwarf Minke Whale will give you the thrill of a lifetime as they are not shy they are actually the opposite. They really want to know what you are and will literally spend hours with divers and snorkellers in the water.
Best Time of Year To Swim With Dwarf Minke Whales
The peak month to swim with Dwarf Minke Whales from Port Douglas is June - July when they are here in greater numbers.
The Humpback whales can be seen frequenting the Outer Great Barrier Reef and Green Island. They grow up to 16 meters long and eat up to 2500 kilograms of Plankton, Krill and small fish every day during the feeding season. They can weigh a staggering 50 tonnes! Humpback whales can be easily identified by their enormous size, characteristic hump and black dorsal fin colouring. They are known to be quite curious of objects in their environments. Each year 1,200 Humpback whales are expected to pass through the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Humpback wales generally migrate to the same areas every year.
The most famous whale to grace the reef with its presents would have to be Migaloo the famous white albino whale. This one of a kind wonder was first spotted back in 1991 during the migration season and we are always on the lookout in the waters of The Great Barrier Reef each season.
Did you know about 30 species of Whales and Dolphins frequent the Great Barrier Reef every year!
Book your spot on a swim with the whales tour from Port Douglas. Coach pick-ups and returns can be arranged from your Cairns and northern beaches holiday accommodation also.
Call us on 1300 761 612 to book your whale encounter and snorkel tour or book your whale encounter online.
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